Chef shuffle at Napa’s Angèle: Scott Ekstrom replaces Patrick Kelly

Patrick Kelly is no longer the chef. He came aboard the restaurant almost two years ago, fresh off a three-year stint at La Folie. At Angèle, Kelly quickly earned three stars from The Chronicle in 2010.

Angèle owners Bettina and Claude Rouas have already found a replacement though. Starting this weekend, the kitchen will be run by Scott Ekstrom.

Ekstrom comes to Napa from New York. He worked for four years under Daniel Boulud at Boulud’s four-star Daniel. He went on to become the chef de cuisine at Oceana during its tenure, earning three stars from the Times; earlier in his career, he also worked for old school French chefs like Jean-Marie Lacroix and Georges Perrier.

Angèle’s focus of refined bistro fare will remain the same under the new chef. Expect Ekstrom’s menu changes to take place gradually over the next month or so. No word yet on Kelly’s next move.

540 Main St. (at Third Street), Napa; (707) 252-8115 or angelerestaurant.com